San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1887-11-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(frcm Our Regular Correspondent

(frcm Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON. Nov. 8, 1887.
Among the prominent Democratic
members OF the House who have
arrived at the Capital, I may mention
the Hon. r. p, Bland, Of Missouri
who is often referred to as Silver
Bland, on account Of the leading
part taken by him in the Legislation
that authorized the coinage OF the
dollar OF our daddies" and also be-
cause he is on all occasions tho stead
fast friend and champion of silver.
Mr.. Bland gives his views as to the
probable course OF legislation IN the
Fiftieth Congress. He thinks a
compromise tariff bill will pass, and
that it will include the repeal OF the
tobacco tax; he believes that the
tariff should be reduced 500, 000,-
900; the free list should be largely
increased and there should be re
duction OF duties ON other imports.
He thinks there will be no financial
legislation except in SO far as tariff
legislation affects the finances.
The question Of changing the time
of the meeting of Congress, is again,
as we'll as the terms of the members,
being agitated, and there are num-
berless advocates in the affirmative,
while on the other hand, the diss en-
TENTS can be counted on ones fingers.
I have yet to see convincing reason
why Congress should meet, as it does
at present, thirteen months after the
election of its members, but, on the
contrary, there are many grave OBJ
jections to the system now in vogue,
among which I may mention that
congressman should come fresh from
the people; that their successors
should not be elected until the in
cumbents serve out their first term,
that the present custom is antagonistic
to the progressive spirit of the age.
Congress now meets on the first
Monday in December, and before
that body gets fairly to work, an
adjournment for the holidays is in
order. Why should not Congressman,
like most other elective officials, begin
their duties on the first of the year
and be paid per annum.
A young newspaper correspondent
of this city took advantage of the
occasion to send sham ''infernal
machine" to Chief Justice Waite
making the impression that it was a
scheme of the friends of the anarch-
lists. for revenge on the Court. The
reckless youth made a sensation in
the Capital, but the sequel was his
confinement in the gloomy cell OF the
police station until bailed out.
Earlier in the past week, Washing
ton had another sensation in the shape
of o cholera scare, caused by two
italian suspects from New York, who,
together with their effects, were given
a fumigation and permitted to depart.
If any more ships supposed to be in
fected with cholera arrive in New
York harbor, the Government will
unceremoniously order them back
from whence they came.
The air is full of rumors of coming
Cabinet changes whether unfounded
or not Your correspondent is unable
to say-to the effect that upon the
transfer of Secretary Lamar to the
Supreme Bench, Postmaster General
Villas will occupy the vacancy, while
the Wisconsin statesman will be sue
ceeded by Don M. Dickinson, of
Michigan. On the other hand, it is
said to be the Presidents purpose to
appoint q prominent Union General
as Mr.. Lamar's successor, and if
this be true, believe his choice will
fall upon Gen, John G, Black, COM
missi oner OF Pensions.